Sling2 aircraft x6. The sequel to my first video of the flight, “Six Sling Formation”.

GoPro footage : Jordan van Eeden.

The unique Alexandria Dunefield stretches for a distance of fifty kilometres from Sundays River Mouth to Bushman’s River, and is one of the largest existing active coastal dunefields in the world.
Situated on the Eastern Cape’s Sunshine Coast, the Alexandria Dunefields cover a total area of one hundred and forty two square kilometres. The dunefield displays an average width of about two and a half kilometres and some of the dunes are about a hundred and forty metres high. The Woody Cape section of the Addo Elephant National Park encompasses the Alexandria Dunefield. The dunefield and unspoilt coastline of mainly sandy beaches is flanked by Southern Coastal Forest with species such as coast coral trees, real yellowwoods, white stinkwoods and knobthorns in abundance. Wildlife occurring in the forest includes bushbuck, bushpig, the rare nocturnal tree dassie, vervet monkeys and blue duiker. Signs of leopard and brown hyena have been recorded in the forest and on forest margins but sightings of these elusive predators are few. Many bird species occur in the forest, including the Trumpeter Hornbill and Knysna Turaco. There have been sightings of the Ground Hornbill in grassland pastures adjacent to the forest. The marine section in Algoa Bay encompasses the Bird Island and the St Croix Island chain. These islands are vitally important for marine bird breeding colonies. Bird Island is home to the largest Cape Gannet breeding colony (some 160 000 birds) in the world while St. Croix houses the largest breeding colony of African Penguins. Endangered birds, such as the Roseate Tern, also breed on the islands.

The Alexandria Dunefield is considered to be the best example in South Africa of bare coastal dunefield, often referred to as a dune sea. It offers a unique and extraordinary wilderness resource which only a few other landscapes in South Africa provide. It is the largest and least degraded coastal dunefield in the southern hemisphere. The dunefield imparts a unique experience of solitude, infinity and spatial freedom.

“Hope Spots are special places that are critical to the health of the ocean — Earth’s blue heart. Hope Spots are about recognizing, empowering and supporting individuals and communities around the world in their efforts to protect the ocean. Dr. Sylvia Earle introduced the concept in her 2009 TED talk and since then the idea has inspired millions across the planet. While about 12 percent of the land around the world is now under some form of protection (as national parks etc.), less than six percent of the ocean is protected in any way. Hope Spots allow us to plan for the future and look beyond current marine protected areas (MPAs), which are like national parks on land where exploitative uses like fishing and deep sea mining are restricted. Hope Spots are often areas that need new protection, but they can also be existing MPAs where more action is needed. They can be large, they can be small, but they all provide hope due to:

A special abundance or diversity of species, unusual or representative species, habitats or ecosystems

Particular populations of rare, threatened or endemic species

A site with potential to reverse damage from negative human impacts

The presence of natural processes such as major migration corridors or spawning grounds

In their own words:
“We started off with 10 Artisans and at our next event there will be 49 artisans from our beautiful Bay area who will be representing their products. We have a wide variety of crafts, delicious food, fresh produce, plants and beverages that will be on sale as well. We are proud to share that we use photography and artwork on our various advertisements and artwork from vendors who will be at the market so make sure that we ‘keep it local’ ”

With a media planning, marketing and event management background, Linda Harwood established Harwood Promotions in January 1997. Harwood Promotions offers a professional public relations and marketing consulting service, specialising in event management, exhibitions, and conferences. Harwood Promotions sets out to clearly understand the client’s marketing goals, and with this insight a viable marketing/pr/event plan is devised and driven with passion to achieve outstanding results. Linda offers a distinctly personal service to achieve the client’s marketing goals.
With over 20 years of experience, her commitment and drive ensures excellent and professional service.

Armed with his Valentine roses and bearing his signature smile, Wilson will be selling his roses from the corner of 6th Avenue and Heugh Road, Walmer from 8am tomorrow morning. Please support him if you can, his bunches of mixed red and coloured roses will be selling for R50-00, four in a bunch. He hopes to have some single roses too for R20-00 each.

The gem collection in Walmer is growing. Lecia de Villiers and Andrew Broughton, the owners of “The Food Studio” have brought an exciting new twist to the world of food experiences, a welcome new dimension to dining in Port Elizabeth. They share a passion for fine food and cooking and aim to bring people together simply by having them socialize in the kitchen while preparing, cooking and enjoying fine food.

Their kitchen was launched in September 2017 with their first trial experience on 15 July 2017. Since the launch The Food Studio has been abuzz with creative dining events, themed evenings, food demonstrations by chefs and cooks, private dining and food pairing experiences. Their ‘in house’ chefs are Vuyani Nkwali and Mike Mallet with the recent addition of Chef Erika Grebe.

The Food Studio can accommodate 12 to 40 people, smaller groups around the kitchen table and larger groups can spread into the dining area and outside deck area. It is not a restaurant operating on a daily basis, it is rather a ‘food event’ company offering a variety of food-related functions custom made to your requirements, per bookings only. They advertise regular food events; past events have been these sizzlers:
Ultimate Meat Feast
Seafood Extravaganza
Degustation
All things cheezy!
Culinary Kids at The Food Studio
Couples Sharing Night
An evening with Vuyani Nkwali
Taste Sensation
All Things Chocolate

We attended the ‘All Things Chocolate’ event and enjoyed every second of the evening and devoured every last crumb of the decadent meals served. It was a sheer delight to have the chefs in the kitchen and cooking for us, making it a memorable evening of fun and fine dining with special friends.

UPCOMING EVENTS at The Food Studio:-

Jan 24 …too late if you were wanting to attend!
Explore Spice Cooking Class
18:00

Jan 27
A Celebration of Summer with Chef Erika
18:00 · by The Food Studio

Your hosts, Andrew and Lecia will offer warm and attentive hospitality while you enjoy all that The Food Studio has on offer. Their intimate and contemporary kitchen will seduce your senses, awaken your desire to experience flavour to the point where both you and your guests surrender to a gourmet food experience.

Two years ago I photographed Retha’s Trail and intended sharing but kept on forgetting. The title of the post then was “Retha’s Trail, the best kept secret in Port Elizabeth.” I can no longer use this title, the secret is out, many people have since been visiting the trail and talking about the trail.

Schoenmakerskop resident Retha, created and developed the path with a chain saw and a few helpers, a path was cut behind some of the houses and she’s filled it with eclectic findings to create a lovely distraction for walkers. I’ve had great intentions of arranging a meeting with Retha but have still not arranged it. A few months back Luc Hosten, a Schoenmakerskop local and photographer supreme, reminded us of Retha’s Trail when sharing his beautiful photographs of the trail. With his permission we are sharing his photograph of Retha. For more on Luc’s fine work and all of his information, please visit:

A little later Jonker Fourie beat me to it with publishing his post on Retha’s Trail! Jonker is also known as Firefly the Travel Guy, he has a photographic blog guide to “beautiful SA, its travel destinations, animals, bugs, birds, plants, flowers, history and culture plus some other stuff. A reference guide to (not quite, but nearly) everything South African”

Here’s an excerpt from his blogpost on Retha’s Trail:-

“One of Port Elizabeth’s little gems that very few people seem to know of is Retha’s Trail in Schoenmakerskop. Retha’s Trail stretches behind the houses (from #24 to #40) in Schoenies on Marine Drive between and can be accessed between numbers 22 and 24. The trail is always open and was created by local resident Retha Taylor along with a couple of workers. The trail starts by the labyrinth on the eastern side and is more about what you’ll find along the way than the trail itself as it’s not really a hiking trail in the sense of the word due to its length. Or in this case “shortness”. Along the way there are literally hundreds of items that act as conversation pieces, some representing something significant in people’s lives and others just because. Or as we say in Afrikaans, “Sommer maar net.” Next time you’re in the area do drop by as I promise you you will love it.”

At long last old slow coach here has managed to hit the ‘publish’ button on this post, I do hope that you enjoy browsing my small collection of sights along the quaint Retha’s Trail at Schoenmakerskop, Port Elizabeth.

Anje Rautenbach is a local travel addict “Going Somewhere Slowly” and enjoys the world in slow motion. She’s in love with good coffee, obsessed with beautiful words and getting lost; she explores places off the beaten path. Here she shares her experience of a bee tour at the newly opened Apiarist Farm Shoppe.

Early this month Google said: “The new trails, launched today, extend the existing Street View imagery of South Africa’s wilderness areas to include all 19 national parks, 17 previously ‘un-trekked’ nature reserves and many sites of natural, cultural and historical significance in all nine provinces of South Africa”.

Always ready with a broad smile and a friendly wave, Wilson Mthalane’s spot for selling his beautiful roses is on the corner of 6th Avenue and Heugh Road in Walmer. He can be seen usually on Fridays and often during the week when he walks the intersection cheerfully interacting with motorists while selling his roses. He hails from Ladismith and enjoys his job which puts bread on the table for his family of six. Wilson is a ray of sunshine to many a moody motorist.

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Like the place and the hosts, it was very nice and had a peaceful stay. Will definitely stay there if I’m in PE. Will absolutely recommend it for its hospitality. J. Mafukati booked out of Dempseys on 08/02/2019. Place your Dempseys guest review here.